Sound Off -- Jan. 31, 2013

Re: “It’s Craps On A Casino” from Jan. 26 Brandon Sun. Enjoyed your column, James O’Connor. Manitoba has so often been referred to ... well ... as a “have-not province” and on the welfare take from Ottawa. So how come all these casinos/gambling establishments are in the plans and making news? It seems there is money aplenty to support the gambling establishments. Oh, I try to understand, politicians don’t want people to head out of province to spend their hard-earned savings in Saskatchewan or across into the U.S. border towns. As good Manitoba citizens who enjoy that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, in high hopes to hit the elusive jackpot, they should make their donations and give back to the province. The big question is will this in any way, shape or form make any difference in the final analysis of Manitoba being or not being a “have-not province?”

Sounds a little backwards to me

On a recent trip the U.S., I purchased gas for my vehicle and when I got home I calculated it all out. By buying the gas in the U.S., it is $1.29 per gallon cheaper than in Canada. The other day, I put gas in my truck and I paid $28. If I had bought that same gas in the U.S., it would have cost me $19. When is this federal and provincial government going to wake up to the fact that we are paying so much for our gasoline when our oil is being shipped to the U.S. for refining? Why can’t we build the refineries in Canada and ship our gasoline to the U.S. instead of the reverse?

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Hope you enjoyed your trial.

Hey there, time traveller!This article was published 30/1/2013 (1659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba — ‘the have-not province?’

Re: “It’s Craps On A Casino” from Jan. 26 Brandon Sun. Enjoyed your column, James O’Connor. Manitoba has so often been referred to ... well ... as a “have-not province” and on the welfare take from Ottawa. So how come all these casinos/gambling establishments are in the plans and making news? It seems there is money aplenty to support the gambling establishments. Oh, I try to understand, politicians don’t want people to head out of province to spend their hard-earned savings in Saskatchewan or across into the U.S. border towns. As good Manitoba citizens who enjoy that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, in high hopes to hit the elusive jackpot, they should make their donations and give back to the province. The big question is will this in any way, shape or form make any difference in the final analysis of Manitoba being or not being a “have-not province?”

Sounds a little backwards to me

On a recent trip the U.S., I purchased gas for my vehicle and when I got home I calculated it all out. By buying the gas in the U.S., it is $1.29 per gallon cheaper than in Canada. The other day, I put gas in my truck and I paid $28. If I had bought that same gas in the U.S., it would have cost me $19. When is this federal and provincial government going to wake up to the fact that we are paying so much for our gasoline when our oil is being shipped to the U.S. for refining? Why can’t we build the refineries in Canada and ship our gasoline to the U.S. instead of the reverse?

Can’t get blood from a stone or more taxes from a senior

This is to the politicians and the bureaucrats regarding school tax. Being a retired pensioner and not getting an increase in pension, I think that seniors should get a break and not have to pay school taxes. God knows we have paid over and over our share. This has got to stop. I can not afford to pay any more taxes!

Equality for all?

I don’t know when the United States of America banned slavery and every person living in the U.S. became a U.S. citizen. Why doesn’t everyone in Canada become a Canadian citizen? Because it is not fair for a senior to go up to a pharmacy and get a monthly supply of pills for about $200 and turn around an see someone who is not Canadian also get their $200 worth of pills and only the senior has to pay. Why can’t it be equal?

Intelligent discussion welcomed

Wow, it would indeed be a sad world if only individuals who are NDP cared about children and youth. Whoever you are, though, I appreciate your comments about the other options available and maybe yes, it would make sense to look more closely at those alternatives. No matter your party, intelligent discussion without branding and sarcasm is always welcome.

Council misguided

City council’s support for a youth centre, although well-intentioned, is clearly misguided given the alternatives that are already in place. The $3-million price tag is one thing, but it is a one-time expense. My concern is what will be the ongoing costs to the taxpayers, i.e. for staffing, maintenance, utilities and future renovations a la the Sportsplex. When will this city administration and council wake up to the fact it is not one-time expenditures that are miring its citizens in property taxes but rather the ongoing expenses that these projects create? If we can afford it, put the $3 million into infrastructure. The moment that runs out, we are done paying — no ongoing expense associated with it.

Here are the e-facts

I would like to reply to the person who said that the Brandon Public Library was spending money on ebooks and not hardcover. That is not the case. The ebooks are not from the Brandon Public Library — rather, the e-library is available to all libraries in Manitoba from Winnipeg Public to the smallest library.